Method for Protecting an Area from Sun and Precipitation

ABSTRACT

A method for protecting an area from sun and precipitation using a retractable awning with an automated pitching gable or automated pitching arch is disclosed. An awning sheet extends using articulating hinged arms. A first end of each articulating arm is hingedly affixed to a surface. The articulating arms provide vertical support for the awning. Swiveling hinge interfaces connect the ends of the articulating arms to the ends of the front support member. In one embodiment, the front support member is an upwardly biased flexible spring member. In another embodiment, the front support member is a left member and right member movably connected by a hinge coupled to an upwardly biased spring. Upon extending the awning, the upwardly biased spring automates pitching the awning into a gable or arch. Upon retracting, the awning sheet is wrapped substantially around the roller, thereby counteracting the automated pitching gable or automated pitching arch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/536,447 filed on Jun. 28, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/633,380, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,225,839 issued Jul. 24, 2012; filed on Dec. 8, 2009, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of retractable awnings and more particularly to a method for protecting an area from sun and precipitation.

BACKGROUND

Retractable awnings are mostly flat and mainly used for sun protection on office buildings, multi-unit dwellings, single family homes, recreational vehicles, etc. To prevent damage from rain, the awnings are retracted. If not, a water basin can form on the awning sheet. To alleviate this problem, flat awnings are pitched downwards from a wall or other fixed surface and users may be forced to push up the middle of the awning sheet to release the water and/or debris.

Pitching the awning downwards may be permanent and can require a mounting height of greater than 15 feet, making it too high to reach without a ladder or extension device to assist in pushing up any saggy basin. Other installations requiring a shorter installation height but similar pitch, make headroom limited for use. Pitching awnings downwards are also impractical because they direct all precipitation and residue down and forward in front of the front bar of the awning possibly over a walk way, thereby impeding egress and ingress.

Pitching is either manual or electric and both ways present problems. Electric problems can prevent any pitching and manual pitch adjustment gear may be impractical because it can require two people to adjust the pitch. For example, the awning first must be fully extended, then multiple steps are required to achieve the desired pitch. One person has to hold up the front portion of the awning to reduce the load on the pitching gears, and the another person has to insert a hook end of an elongated bar into a hand crank, and manually turn the hand crank in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to attain the desired pitch. This is impractical for the elderly, or people with limited dexterity or strength.

An attempt to solve the problem has been made by manually gabling a flat retractable awning into a gabled awning using a joint mechanism requiring a user to hold a rod or other elongated device and manually urge the front portion of the awning upwards after the awning is fully extended. This is impractical for the following reasons: using a rod or other elongated device to manually urge the front portion of the awning upwards is difficult for some people who cannot lift their arms over their head, the resistance of the front portion of the awning may be difficult for individuals with limited strength or manual dexterity, and if the awning is installed high, a ladder or a very long, heavy rod would be required to reach the joint mechanism, making transformation dangerous. Additional storage space is also required for the rod or elongated device.

What is needed is a retractable awning that automates pitching when extending without any user action as deployed.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the invention, the problems of transforming a flat awning into a gabled configuration manually are avoided by having the front edge urge upwards without user action while the awning is being extended from a building or recreation vehicle.

In one embodiment, a retractable awning apparatus is disclosed where the front support member is a flexible spring member biased upwards in a naturally arched configuration. This flexible spring member resiliently urges the front edge of the awning upwards into an arched configuration when extending the awning sheet from the roller. As the awning sheet is pulled around the roller when retracting, the articulated arms are pulled towards the frame and the opposable ends of the flexible spring member and awning sheet are pulled outwards, thereby counteracting the naturally arched configuration of the flexible spring member.

In a second embodiment, a retractable awning apparatus is disclosed with a front support member having a left front member and right front member connected by a hinge and a spring. This spring resiliently urges the left member and right member into a gabled configuration when extending the awning sheet from the roller. As the awning sheet is pulled around the roller when retracting, the articulated arms are pulled towards the frame and the left front member and right front member are pulled outwards at opposable ends, thereby counteracting the naturally gabled configuration of the spring, and aligning the left front member and the right front member horizontally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system of the prior art.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a system of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a side view of a system of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is a front view of a system of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a system of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a top view of a system of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3C is a front view of a spring in a natural configuration.

FIG. 3D is a side view of a spring in a natural configuration.

FIG. 3E is an exploded front view of the spring loaded joint connecting two support members in a natural configuration.

FIG. 3F is an exploded front view of the spring and hinge connecting two support members in a flattened configuration.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a system of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a gabled configuration in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an arched configuration in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. In the preferred embodiments, references made to a gable or arch can be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art retractable awning 10. FIG. 1 shows a flat front bar 11 common to prior art retractable awnings 10 When the prior art retractable awning 10 is extended, the awning fabric often sags in the middle due to the weight of water, etc. creating a basin. These awnings often must be rolled in to prevent them from collapsing or a user has to push up the middle of the flexible awning sheet 12 to release the water on the sides or front. Shown in FIG. 1 is a left articulated arm 14, with a left proximal member 16 and left distal member 28 connected together by a second left hinge 30 forming a left joint 32. The left proximal member 16 is connected to the frame 22 on the left portion 18 of the frame forming a first left hinge 20. The right articulated arm 34, with a right proximal member 36 and right distal member 42 are connected together by a second right hinge 44 forming a right joint 46. The right proximal member 36 is connected to the frame 22 on the right portion 38 of the frame forming the first right hinge 40. The articulating arms 34, 14 are connected to the flat front bar 11 for support and extension. A flexible sheet 12 is attached to a roller 62 inside a housing 26. The frame 22 is attached behind the housing 26 to the surface of a wall (shown in FIG. 2B).

FIG. 2A shows the first embodiment of the present invention with a flexible spring member 66. The flexible spring member 66 is sewn into the flexible sheet 12 and both are connected to the articulated arms 14, 34 by a swiveling hinge interface 59. For example, each hinge is connected to the flexible spring member 66 and swivels on each articulated arm 14, 34. (Shown in FIG. 2B, 2C). This allows the articulated arms 14, 34 to extend outwards and the flexible spring member 66 to resiliently urge the flexible sheet 12 upwards into an arched configuration, thereby providing runoff on the sides, as opposed to the front of the awning as in the prior art. As the awning sheet is pulled around the roller 62 when retracting, the articulated arms 14, 34 pull opposable ends of the flexible spring member 66 and flexible sheet 12 outwards at the swiveling hinge interfaces 59, thereby counteracting the natural arched configuration of the flexible spring member 66.

FIG. 2B is left side view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing the flexible sheet 12. The housing 26 is connected to the surface of a building 24 and houses a roller 62. The left articulated arm 14 is connected to the surface of the building 24 by the first left hinge 20. The left proximal member 16 and left distal member 28 are connected by the second left hinge 30. The flexible spring member 66 is sewn into the flexible sheet 12 and both are shown connected to the left articulated arm 14 by a swiveling hinge interface 59.

FIG. 2C is the front view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing the flexible spring member 66 urged upwards in a natural arched configuration and connected to the left distal member 28 and right distal member 42 by the swiveling hinge interfaces 59.

FIG. 3A shows the second embodiment of the present invention with a left member 68 and right member 70 connected by a hinge 72 and a spring (shown in FIG. 3E). The left member 68 and right member 70 are each connected to the articulated arms 14, 34 by a swiveling hinge interface 59. For example, one hinge is connected to the left member 68 and one hinge is connected to the right member 70 and each hinge swivels on the end of each distal member 28, 42 of the articulated arms 14, 34. When extending the awning sheet 12 from the roller 62, a spring (shown in FIG. 3E) resiliently urges the front portion of the awning upwards into a naturally gabled configuration, thereby providing runoff on the sides, as opposed to the front of the awning in the prior art. As the awning sheet 12 is pulled around the roller when retracting, the left distal member 28 and right distal member 42 articulate towards the wall and pull outwards both outside ends of left front member 68 and right front member 70 at the swiveling hinge interfaces 59, thereby counteracting the spring (shown in FIG. 3F), and aligning the left front member 68 and right front member 70 horizontally.

FIG. 3B shows the top view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a spring 74 and the hinge 72 attached to the left member 68 and right member 70 in a flattened configuration. FIG. 3C shows the front view of the spring 74 in a natural configuration. FIG. 3D shows the side view of the spring 74 in a natural configuration. FIG. 3E shows an exploded front view of the hinge 72 and a spring 74 connecting the left front member 68 and right front member 70 in a gabled configuration. FIG. 3F shows an exploded front view of the spring 74 attached to the left member 68 and right member 70 in a flattened configuration.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a left member 68 and right member 70 connected together by a hinge 72 in a gabled configuration. The left front member 68 and right front member 70 are connected to the left distal member 28 and the right distal member 42 by the swiveling hinge interfaces 59. For example, one hinge is connected to the left member 68 and one hinge is connected to the right member 70 and each hinge swivels on the ends of each distal member 28, 42 allowing the front edge portion of the flexible sheet to gable as it extends.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of an awning in a third embodiment of the present invention with the front edge portion of the flexible sheet 54 with hinges 72 connecting front support members 48 in a multi-gabled configuration. FIG. 6 shows a front view of an awning in a fourth embodiment of the present invention with the front edge portion of the flexible sheet 54 having an arched configuration with a flexible spring member 66 (shown in FIG. 2A). It is anticipated that an awning may be manufactured with any number of gables.

A retractable awning with an automated pitching gable or automated pitching arch configuration has been shown which serves the purposes sought herein. Modifications, variations, other uses, and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specifications and the drawings which disclose the present invention. Modifications, variations, other uses, and applications not outside the scope and spirit of the present invention are deemed covered by the present invention.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result. It is believed that the apparatus and system of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for protecting an area from sun and precipitation, the method comprising: providing a retractable awning; the retractable awning comprising a flexible sheet, a front support member, a roller, a frame, a housing, a left articulating arm having a left proximal member movably connecting to a left portion of the frame by a first left hinge, a left distal member, the left proximal member movably connecting to the left distal member by a second left hinge forming a left joint, a right articulating arm having a right proximal member movably connecting to a right portion of the frame by a first right hinge, a right distal member, the right proximal member movably connecting to the right distal member by a second right hinge forming a right joint; affixing a front edge portion of the flexible sheet to a top portion of the front support member; affixing a back edge portion of the flexible sheet to the roller; securing the frame to a fixed surface or securing the frame to a recreational vehicle; affixing the housing to the frame; rotatably affixing the roller to the housing; turning the roller in a first direction along its axis; responsive to turning, the roller extending the flexible sheet substantially from the roller, the roller extending the left articulating arm from the frame, the roller extending the right articulating arm from the frame, and the roller extending the front support member; responsive to extending the front support member, the front support member automatically pitching the front edge portion of the flexible sheet without user action into an arch or a gable; turning the roller in a second direction along its axis; responsive to turning the roller in the second direction, retracting the flexible sheet substantially onto the roller; and, responsive to retracting the flexible sheet substantially onto the roller, counteracting the automatically pitching front edge portion of the flexible sheet.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the front support member is an upwardly biased flexible spring member, and wherein the step of automatically pitching the front edge portion of the flexible sheet includes extending all four of the following: the left articulating arm, the right articulating arm, the upwardly biased flexible spring member, and the flexible sheet, thereby urging the upwardly biased flexible spring member and automatically pitching the front edge portion of the flexible sheet into the arch.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the front support member further comprises a left front member and a right front member, and wherein the left front member and the right front member are movably connected by a hinge coupled with an upwardly biased spring, and wherein the step of automatically pitching the front edge portion of the flexible sheet includes extending all seven of the following: the left articulating arm, the right articulating arm, the left front member and the right front member movably connected by the hinge coupled with the upwardly biased spring, and the flexible sheet, thereby urging the left front member and the right front member out of horizontal alignment without user action automatically pitching the front edge portion of the flexible sheet into the gable.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first end of the front support member is rotatably affixed to the left distal member by a first swiveling hinge interface, and wherein a second end of the front support member is rotatably affixed to the right distal member by a second swiveling hinge interface.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of counteracting the automatically pitching front edge portion of the flexible sheet comprises the front support member, wherein the front support member is an upwardly biased flexible spring member, and the step of retracting the flexible sheet substantially onto the roller further comprises: retracting the left articulating arm substantially to the frame, retracting the right articulating arm substantially to the frame, and retracting the upwardly biased flexible spring member substantially to the frame.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of counteracting the automatically pitching front edge portion of the flexible sheet comprises the front support member, wherein the front support member further comprises a left front member and a right front member movably connected by a hinge coupled with an upwardly biased spring, and wherein the step of retracting the flexible sheet substantially onto the roller further comprises: retracting the left articulating arm substantially to the frame, retracting the right articulating arm substantially to the frame, and retracting each of the left front member and the right front member movably connected by the hinge coupled with the upwardly biased spring member substantially to the frame.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of turning the roller in the first direction and the step of turning the roller in the second direction is performed by a motor coupled to the roller. 